Coal mine water saves energy at Marywood

SCRANTON — What was the source of fuel in the past may now be the source of energy for the future.

SARAH HOFIUS HALL

SCRANTON — What was the source of fuel in the past may now be the source of energy for the future.

More than 400 feet below the ground, 55-degree water sits in the closed anthracite mines below Marywood University. Untouched for decades, the water is now heating and cooling the university's School of Architecture.

The idea of using mine water to heat and cool buildings is not a new concept — but this is the first time it has been used successfully on a practical scale in northeast Pennsylvania, said Michael Korb, manager of the Wilkes-Barre office of the state Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation.

With a virtually endless supply of water in mines below the region, Marywood's example could be the start of a new era of energy.

"I think once people see it working, it will happen more and more," Korb said. "It certainly is applicable in other places."

The types and use of geothermal energy vary widely around the world.

Marywood's system, which started operating last month, adds another sustainable measure to the converted gymnasium that now houses the School of Architecture. The building has earned a prestigious Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification for the eco-friendly renovations.

Little is visible above ground, except for two wellheads outside the building. Inside the mechanical room in the building's basement, a series of pipes contain water pumped from the mines below. As the mine water comes into the system, it is between 55 and 60 degrees, said Wendy Yankelitis, director of physical plant for Marywood.

Water from the mines never touches the water flowing through the cooling system throughout the building. Instead, the mine water goes into an exchanger, where the mine water cools the water inside the building. The used, unaltered mine water then goes back into the mines, Yankelitis said.

The building is kept cool with a chilled water system, in which now-cooler water flows through open beams throughout the building. As warm air rises, it reaches the beams and cools, she said.

The building has a supplemental heat system for extremely cold days, but the constant temperature of the mine water should be able to maintain a comfortable indoor climate most of the year, Yankelitis said.

About half of the system's $500,000 price was paid through a federal stimulus grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, and the rest was financed through a low-interest state loan.